The Spain Forums

Lee

For those of you who do not know, crime watch hold a regular meeting on the last Tuesday of every month at 3.45pm at Casa Cultura aka the Cultural Centre in Catral.

The next meeting is scheduled for 24th June and no meetings in July or August.

There have been a number of break in's in the area 13 of these have been burglaries and two attempted burglaries

6 were in Camino de la Borda
2 in Arroba de la Hornas
2 in Los Abidias lo Vera
2 in Camino del Perpen
1 in Arobba de la Madriguera
2 in Torre los Pavos

10 of those were holiday homes and two were garages

Items stolen included bank and personal information

Be on your look out for

A man on a bicycle. Seen rummaging through the bins next to the post boxes on Camino del Perpen. Possible Moroccan 5'10" heavily built riding a blue womans bicycle

Men in white van, registration R446 RJP. Two possible Moroccan men observed looking through waste bins on Lo Borda crossroads

Please shred or burn all personal paperwork, rather than dispose of it in the communal bins.

Suspicious vehicles to look out for

White Ford van registration IB 5869 BH. Vehicle seen parked adjacent to waste bins on Camino de los Abadias with one north African male occupant.

White Vauxhall registration 81926 ? P. Vehicle parked suspiciously with two Spanish men inside. When confronted by the home owner they said "suma" and produced one from inside the car. Then said "oh sorry wrong number"

White van (make unknown) registration AV 5888. Seen acting suspiciously in Arroba de la Madriguera

Nissan (colour unknown) registration GBS?????. This vehicle has been used in conjunction with two robberies at Camino de la Borda on 10 and 11/05/08

Red ford escort or Peugeot 405 registration K60 KGS. This vehicle was observed driving slowly up and down Los Abidias Lo Vera prior to a robbery on 08/05/08. Two male occupants one with blond hair in their twenties were reportedly looking for gardening work. The vehicle and occupants could also be associated with robberies in Arroba de la Madriguera and Lo Chicharra

Van no further details. Was observed to be parked near the road tunnel on Arroba de Hornos on 04/05/08 just prior to a robbery on Arroba de Hornos. Three men were standing near the van

Dark colour Volvo estate registration 23 BMX. One male occupant observed taking photographs of houses on Arroba de Hornos 04/05/08

Black Mercedes 190 registration 2726 BKG. Seen on 20/05/08 driving along Camino de Caturla with three male occupants 25 to 30 years, possibly Romanian

The above car was seen in our own area a few months back, about the time several break ins occurred. At the time the off side rear was covered in grey primer. When they noticed we were taking their car details, they fronted us saying that they were relatives of the land owner who owns several fields near our home. They seemed very edgy, even more so when they noticed the Saturday night special one of us was holding behind the gate.

Do not confront any of the occupants of these vehicles for your own safety

The present increase in crime is blamed on the shortage of work and the poor poor criminals are only screwing up your life so they can afford food.

Ahh bless

__________________

Lee

A scam to look out for.

If your sitting outside a bar with your mobile phone, wallet, purse etc on the table.

Someone will come over, lay a map over the table and ask directions. This is only so they can distract you as they nick your valuables from under the map.

Thief's are also using bikes and scooters to do ride by thefts of bags etc from peoples chairs outside bars and cafés

__________________

sue s

There have been a further 3 Burglaries in Torre Los Pavos in the last 3 Weeks.
isnt it about time that The Police Done Something about it ?

I know there is a shortage of Police but The Amount of Breakins going on, Its getting absolutely Ridiculous.

We keep upgrading Alarm Systems, locks etc what else are we supposed to do ?

Are we ever going to be able to make our Properties Safe?

Lee

We had a guy turn up today, rang the buzzer on the gate.
As I approached he rattled something off in Spanish then started speaking in broken English.

Something about collecting for a camping trip for homeless or orphaned children.

As I got to the gate he handed me a laminated map.

The guy had an official looking clipboard, an id he showed that was hung round his neck.

On the clipboard he had several bits of paper, one he showed was a list of donations. Nothing below 20 euro noted on it.

Funny that, he never noted my 50 cent donation

This is a possible scam going on in the area to watch out for

__________________

Lee

Yet another warning of possible burglars checking out properties in Catral

We have just been approached by two men looking for cigarettes and the use of our pool.

One has long hair tied back, the other a crew cut

They are on foot approaching home owners

Good luck and stay on your guard

__________________

Lee

One of the two mentioned above was once again seen on foot in the area.
Long haired guy with his hair tied back

Followed by two guys late at night on push bikes.

A neighbour reported seeing the two guys on bikes to the police and we had a car round checking out the area. So the police do respond to these calls.

And yet another house looks like it has had a visit over night

Lucky they chose a deserted house to break into this time. The house they chose, has now been broken into three times in the 18 months I have been in Spain.

__________________

ST

Burglaries seem to be so common these days. I hope the area in Catral my agent is going to tell me when I go over next month, is not one of those listed. I'm glad there is a crime watch group.

Thanks Lee for the usual info.